Material handling apparatus



Jan. 29, 1957 N. H. ECKLER ET AL 2,779,435

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed NOV. 6, 1953 A 5. l @i mW/M//w T. V. m/.wy N a .w A mm 47 i 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Af/ //wW////// N. H. ECKLER ET AL MATERIAL. HANDLING APPARATUS Jan. 29, 1957 Filed Nov. 6, 1953 Il 3y- United States Patent() MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Norman H. Eckler, Cheswick, Eugene W. Jacobson, Oakmont, and Benjamin M. Wedner, Pittsburgh, Pa., asslgnors to Gulf Research & Development Company,

Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Delaware Application November 6, 1953, Serial No. 390,638`

17 Claims. (Cl. 214-17) This invention relates to material handling apparatus of such character as to permit movement of material from ahigh-pressure zone to a relatively low-pressure Zone through a sequence of pressure drops. More specifically, the invention pertains to apparatus particularly well adapted for handling materials in the manner of the apparatus disclosed in our copending U. S. patent application Serial No. 297,966, iiled Iuly 9, 1952, and now Patent No. 2,711,833.

Generally speaking, the present invention includes means dening a series of communicating chambers together withmeans reciprocable through the chambers for alternately and overlappingly closing communication of each chamber with its preceding and succeeding chambers. With more particularity, the subject invention also encompasses details of structure which permits ready replacement or repair of Worn elements; minimizes erosive effects of particulate matter passing through the apparatus; and moves contacting surfaces in such a manner that wear is distributed uniformly rather than` being localized. ln addition, the invention also encompasses control of the magnitude of the individual successive pressure drops, and the control of the heat exchange relationships of the material undergoing pressure reduction.

The principles of the inventionwill be best comprehended in the light of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: i

Figure l is a longitudinal central sectional view of the apparatus showing the same in operative relation to a reactor, certain portions of the apparatus of the invention being shown in side elevation and the illustrated portion of the reactor being shown in dashed outline;

Figures 2, 2a, and 2b jointly illustrate in enlarged detail the apparatus shown in Figure `1;

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional View taken upon the plane of the section line 3-3 in Figure 2 or Figure l;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view of the valving member taken upon the plane of the section line 4 4 of Figure 2b; and,

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken upon the plane of the section line 5`5 of Figure 2b.

Referring to the drawings, and with particular reference to Figure l, the numeral designates a hollow cylindrical housing that is adapted to penetrate into and communicate with the interior of a pressurized vessel, such as a reactor partially illustrated in dashed outline at 12.

The reactor 12 includes a tubular section 14 through which the housing 10 extends into the interior of the reactor 12. The end of the tubular section 14 disposed externally of the reactor 12 is provided with a flange 16. A mounting flange 18 is fixed to the housing 10, as by annular weld 20, and such flange 18 is bolted to the tiange 16 by bolts 22. A packing ring 24 is interposed between the flanges 16 and 18 to prevent leakage.

A securing flange26 is welded, as by annular weld 28, to the lower end (as viewed in the drawings) of the housing 10 in such a manner as `to constitute an extension of the housing 10.

Sealing means are provided between each of the above-- enumerated cylindrical spacers and the guides adjacent thereto, which are of identical character in each instance. Accordingly, since it is thought that a detailed description of only one of such sealing means will suiiice for all and in the interest of brevity, only such sealing means provided between the guide 32 and the cylindrical spacer 42 Will be described in detail. Such sealing means provided between the cylindrical spacer 42 and the guide 32 comprises an adapter ring 58 partially tted within the end of the cylindrical spacer 42 adjacent the guide 32. The portion of the adapter ring 50 that is disposed outside the cylindrical spacer 42 is of the same external diameter as the cylindrical spacer 42 and is seated between the guide 32 and the adjacent end of the cylindrical sleeve 42. The abutting surfaces of the guide 32 and the adapter ring 50 are provided with complementary annular grooves in which is disposed a packing ring 52 that is triangular in transverse section. The arrangement is such that a force urging the cylindrical spacer 42 toward the guide 32 effects a seal between the guide 32 and the adapterring 5t).`

The adapter ring Sil is suiciently close litting within the cylindrical spacer 42 so as to render the provision of special sealing means therebetween unnecessary. For reasons subsequently to be apparent, the internal surface 54 of the adapter ring 58 is tapered so as to liare outwardly from the guide 32.

The uppermost guide 32 is seated against the shoulder 30 at the upper end of the housing 10, while the lowermost guide 40 is urged upwardly within the housing 10 and held secure by means of a ange 56. The tiange 56 is welded, as at 58, to the guide 40 and bolted to the securing ange 26 by bolts 6l). `The arrangement is such that the flange 56 acting through the guide 48 holds all of the other guides, cylindrical spacers, :and adapter `rings in the assembled relation shown in the drawings. A packing ring 62 is interposed between the flanges 26 and 56 in order to prevent leakage.

An elongated valving member 64 of generally cylindrical conliguration extends through all of the guides 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40. The external dimensions of the valving member 64 are complementary to the internal dimensions of the guides so as to be slidable therein. Longitudinally spaced portions of the valving member 64 are provided with longitudinally extending, diametrically opposed, radial slots that form transverse openings 66, 68, 70, and 72 through the valving member 64. The arrangement is such that the valving member 64 is of undiminished, transverse cross-sectional area above, below, and intermediate the transverse openings 66, 68, 70, and 72. Such sections 74, 76, 78, 88, and 82 of the valving member 64 which are of undiminished cross-sectional area may be considered for the purpose of the claims as sections of the valving member 64 of relatively enlarged transverse cross-sectional area.` Similarly, for the purpose of the claims, the guides 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40 may be considered as portions of the` housing 10 having relatively reduced internal transverse cross-sectional areas.

The section 82 of the valving member 64 is provided,`

intermediate its longitudinal extent, with a pair of cross slots 84, as best shown in Figures 2b and 4. Registering openings 86 and 88 are provided in the guide 40 and the communication between the slots 84 and the exterior of the housing, 10. A discharge pipe 90 is fitted into the opening 88 and welded to the housing 10, as by annular weld 92.

Theportion' 942 ofthe valving membersection 8.2.1 lying beneath the. slots 84. is,- disposed below they openings.l S6 and4 88', andlsealingimeans-.is providedto preventrlealt-age from the housing about suchlportion 94. Such sealing meansincludes a packinggland 96 in the flange 56, and also comprises the provision of an annular groove 9,8 in` the'guide 40 that surrounds the-portion 24 of the valving member section 82. A passageway 100 is provided in the Harige 26 which communicates between the groove- 98 anda supply conduit 102whereby` iluids, preferably aninert gas such as nitrogen may, be introduced underfpressure about the; portion 94 of the valving member 64 to proventi leakageof materials within the slots 84 through the lower. end ofthe housing 10.

The relative longitudinal spacing of the guidesv 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40 and the valving member sections 74, 76, 78, 80, and 82 and the joint operation of such elements, will be readily understood. The valving member sections are so spaced relative to the spacing of the guides that alternate sections of the valving member may oe juxtaposed with alternate guides. In other words, the set of alternate valving member sections comprising the sections 76 and 80 are shown in the drawings as being juxtaposed with the alternate guides 34 and 38. The valvingl member 64 may be shifted downward from the position shown thereof in the drawings to move the` sections and guides shown as being juxtaposed from juxtaposition, while moving the other alternate set ofvalving member sections, namely, sections 74, 78, and 82 into juxtaposition with the other alternate set of guides, namely, guides 32, 36, and 40.

The interior of the housing 10 may be considered as being partially comprised of aseries of communicating chambers 104,106, 168, and 110 separated and defined by the guides 32, 34, 36, 38, and 40, with communication between adjacent chambers being controlled by the valving member sections.

With the valving member 64 inthe position shown in the drawings, the valving member section 76 being juxtaposed with the guide 34 prevents communication between the chambers 104 and 106, while valving member section 8) denies communication between the chambers 10S and 110. On the other hand, with the valving member 64 in the position shown thereof in the drawings, the valving member sections 74, 78, and 82 are displaced upwardly from their associated guides so that communication between the interior of the reactor 12 and thechamber 104 isestablished through the` guide 32 andthe opening 66 in the valving member 6 4. Similarly, communication between thechambers 106 and 108 exists through the opening 76, and communication between the discharge pipe 9) and the chamber lilis. established through the slots84. Summariaing, communication is afforded between the interior of the reactor 12and the chamber 104, between the chambers 166 and 101%, and between the chamber 116 and the discharge pipe 90, while communication is denied between chambers 104 and 106 and between the chambers 1018 and 110.

Shifting the valving member 64 so as to juxtapose the valving member section 74and the guide 32 will aord communication between the chambers 104 andv 106; while denying communicationbetween the interior of the reactor 12 and chamber 164, between ,the chambers106 and 166 and between the chamber 110 and the discharge pipe 9i?. lt is to be noted that the spacing ofthe valving member sections is such that intermediate the hereinbefore described positions ofthe' valving member 64, acljacent sections are, momentarily partially positioned in adjacent guides assoeiated'therewith, whereby communication between any of' the. chambers is momentarily denied;

Alignment of each' of the valving member sections and its associated guide isl assured atv all times byreason of the external conguration of the valving member 64 intermediate the sections being in large part cylindrical and conforming to the guides. Thus, each guide is at all times in such contact with the valving member 64 so as to retain the latter in concentric relation to the guide.

It is to be noted that each guide and the adaptor rings positioned on opposite sides thereof dene a substantially venturi-shaped restriction in the housing 10, by virtue of the adaptor rings having tapered internal surfaces as hereinbefore` described. Such configuration tendsto streamline the flow ofy material passing'from one chamber to the next, and such streamlined flow is further promoted by virtue of the tapered conguration of the slots in the valving member 64 that dene the transverse openings 66, 68, 7th, and 72. Such streamlined flow is highly desirable in that minimization of turbulence in materials flowing from one chamber to the next also minimizes abrasion effects that may be caused by suspended solids containedl in the flowing material.

Means is provided for reciprocating the valving mem-- ber 64 and also for rotating the latter. Such means includes a prime mover 112 of the type Vthat will impart areciprocating motion to a shaft 114. The prime mover 112 can be of any suitable character for the purpose desired, such as a double-acting steam engine, or thev like.

The shaft 114 is rotatably `secured to a connecting` member 116 by anti-friction bearings and mounting structure 118, the arrangement being such that the connecting member 116y is free to rotate about the axis of the shaft 114, but is constrained to move along with the shaft 114 during reciprocation of the latter. The connccting member 116 is in turn secured to the valving member 64by a locknut 120, so that the valving member 64 is constrained to reciprocate with the shaft 114 and the connecting member 116, and is held in such a manner,

that relative rotation between the connecting member 116 and the valving member 64 is denied.

The means provided for rotating the valving member 64 during reciprocation of the latter comprises a housing 122 carried by a xed stationary support 124. Rotatably mounted within the housing 122 is a hollow gear member 126 provided on its inner face with an internal helical gear 128, such gear member 126 being retained Within the housing 122 by means of a retaining ring 130 and cap screws 132.

Ratchet means is provided for preventing rotation of;l the gear member 126 in one direction. Such means.

comprises a portion of the outer periphery of the gear member 126 being provided with ratchet teeth 134. Av

plurality of ratchet pawls 136 are mountedV within the housingr122 for cooperative engagement with the ratchet teeth on the gear member 126. The ratchet pawls-136 are positioned in openings 138 provided in the housing. 122 and journaled on pins 140 that are seated in the housingj122 andthe retaining ring 130, with coiled compression springs 142 being biased between the housing;

122 andthe ratchetpawls 136for yieldingly urging the latter into engagement with theratchet teeth 134.

The internal helicalvgear 123 of the gear member 126 is engaged by an external helical gear 1441 provided on' the connecting member 116A The arrangementis such that e during reciprocation of the connecting member'116, the

gears 124 and 144 and the ratchet pawls 136 coact in such a manner that the connecting member 116 is rotated in one direction upon movement of the connecting member 116 in one direction, and doesnot'rotate upon movementjof the connecting member 116 inthe other direction.

Such rotation.V of the connecting Ymember 116:l occurs,

when the ratchet pawls 136 prevent rotation ofthe gear member-126, and the' connecting member'116doesnot rotate when the-coaction oftheY gears-1 281and' 1441is such as to cause gear member 126 to rotate in the direction unopposed by the ratchet pawls 136.

Reciprocation of the valving member 64 accompanied by the intermittent rotation thereof accomplished by the above-described mechanism distributes wear on the guides and the valving member 64 substantially uniformly, so`

as to prolong the useful life of the apparatus.

The operation of the apparatus will be evident. =Reciprocation of the valving member 64 causes each of theI chambers 104, 106, S, and 110 to alternately and in an overlapping manner to be closed from communication with its inlet and its outlet, whereby material within the reactor 12 will sequentially pass through the chambers in the order enumerated and out the pipe 90, with pressure reductions being effected during movement of such materials from each chamber to the next.

As will `be noted in Figure l, the chambers 104, 106, 10,8, and 110 are progressively larger, thus permitting a larger expansion of material on passage from one chamber to the next than would otherwise be realized if the chambers were of the same capacity. The pathway traversed by materials passing through the apparatus is such as `to minimize turbulence and thereby hold abrasive action to the minimum. Such wear as occurs between the guides and the valving member is caused to be evenly distributed by rotating the valving member 64 about its axis.

The apparatus is particularly well adapted for ease of assembly and disassembly and therefore holds down to a minimum the shut-down time required to effect whatever repairsmay be necessary. In this connection, repair or replacement of elements of the apparatus may be expeditiously effected by reason of the fact that the guides, adaptor rings, and spacer sleeves may be removed from the housing 10 and either replaced or repaired.

The apparatus is of such a character as to permit substantial variation in design details and manner of use as to afford considerable control over the character of expansions experienced by materials passing therethrough. For example, the apparatus may be utilized as illustrated in Figure l wherein the expansions that occur in chambers 104 and 106 take place in heat-exchange relation (through the housing 10 and the spacer sleeves) with the interior of the reactor 12. Portions of the housing 10 disposed about selected chambers therein can be externally insulated, not shown, so that the expansions taking place in such chambers will be substantially adiabatic, while on the other hand, portions of the housing 10 can be provided with cooling tins, not shown, or passed in heat-exchange relation with a cooling medium in order to expand and cool material passing through the housing 10. t

The apparatus embodying the invention has been described in considerable detail for the purpose of conveying a clear understanding thereof, and the scope of the invention is not to be interpreted as being limited by such detailed description; attention being directed to the appended claims for ascertainment of the scope of the invention.

We claim:

1. In material handling apparatus, an elongated hollow housing including a pair of longitudinally spaced portions of reduced internal transverse cross-sectional areas, an elongated valving member positioned within the housing for longitudinal reciprocation therein, sai-d valving member including a pair of longitudinally spaced sections of enlarged transverse cross-sectional areas, each of said sections being complementary to and longitudinally slidable in one of said housing portions, at least one of said sections having a longitudinal length substantially less than the longitudinal spacing of said portions, said sections of the valving member being spaced apart a distance differing from the spacing of the housing portions.

2. In material handling apparatus, an elongated hollow housing including side portions with an intermediate portion of relatively reduced internal transverse cross sectiontherebetween, the internal surface of said portion of the housing being of circular cylindrical contiguration, and an elongated valving member extending through said portions of the housing, said valving member including an intermediate section of circular cylindrical shape slidalble in saidy intermediate portion of the housing Iand being of reduced transverse cross-sectional are-a on opposite sides of said section, with said section being of lesser longitudinal length than at least` one of said side portions of the housing.

3.. The combination of claim 2, wherein said valving member is provided with longitudinally extending slots on opposite sides of the intermediate section thereof.

4. The combination of claim 2, including means for reciprocating the valving member, and means for rotating` the valving member aboutits axis. f

5. The combination lof claim 2, including means for reciprocating the valve member, and means responsive to reciprocation of the valving member `for rotating the valving member about its longitudinal axis.

6. The combination of claim 2, including means for reciprocating the valving member, means operative upon longitudinal movement of the valving member in one direction for rotating the valving member in one direction,

Iand means for preventing rotationofthe valving member in the opposite direction.`

7. The` combination of claim 2, including means for rotating the valving member comprising a pair of meshing` helical gears, one of said gears being rigidly fixed to` the valving member and the other gear being restrained `against longitudinal movement with the valving member, and means for preventing rotation of said -other gear `in one direction.

8. In material handling apparatus, an elongated hollow housing including a series of longitudinally spaced portions of reducedinternal transverse cross-sectional areas; and an elongated valving member positioned within the housing for longitudinal reciprocation therein, said valving member including a series of longitudinally spaced sections of enlarged transverse cross-sectional areas, each of said sections being transversely complementary to and lslidable in one of said portions of the housing; the relative spacing of the series of portions and the series of sections being such that either set of alternate members of the series of sections can be juxtaposed with one `set of alternate members of the series of portions, with the other set of alternate members of the series of sections being displaced in one direction from juxtaposition with the other set of alternate members of the series of portions and longitudinally spaced from all of said portions of the housing.

9. The combination of claim 8, wherein chambers within the housing are defined intermediate .adjacent portions thereof, said chambers being progressively larger along one direction of the housing.

10. In material handling apparatus, means defining a series of successively larger chambers, each of the chambers intermediate `of the series having communication with the preceding and the succeeding chambers and reciprocating valve means extending through the chambers operative upon reciprocation for alternately closing communication of each intermediate chamber with its preceding chamber vand its succeeding chamber, with successive yclosings of communication overlapping.

ll. The combination of claim l0, wherein said valve means are elongated in the direction of reciprocation, and means for rotating the valve means about an axis parallel to the direction of reciprocation.

l2. In material handling apparatus, an elongated cylindrical housing, a plurality of annular guides in the housing, cylindrical spacers of relatively greater internal diameter disposed between the guides and spacing the latter, and a cylindrical valving member extending through the guides for longitudinal reciprocation, said valving member having 7 longitudinally spaced, longitudinally extending slots therer IIL 13. The combination of` claiml 12, wherein each of said guidesl and the cylindrical spacers on the opposite sides thereof define Icollectively a substantiallyventurishaped passageway therethrough having a minimum transverse cross-sectional 'area at the position of the guide.

14. The combinationA of yclaim 13, wherein the longit'udinally extending slots in the valving member are of tapered radial depth adjacent their extremities.

15. ln material handling apparatus, an elongated, openended, hollow housing, an elongated valving member reciprocably extending into one end of the housing, sealing means adjacent said one end of the housing for preventing leakage from said one end of the housing, said housing having a plurality of longitudinally spaced portions of reduced Ainternal cross-sectional areas, saidk valving member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced sections of enlarged transverse cross-sectional areas, each of said sections being complementary t-o and slidable in Ione of said portions of the housing, said sections being so spaced with respect to the spacingof the housing portions that such sections can be selectively and exclusively juxtaposed with either one of the alternate setsof the housing portions upon longitudinal movement of the valving member, and said housing' having a lateral opening adjacent said one end of the housing.

16. In material handling apparatus, an elongated, openended, hollow housing, an elongate-d valving member reciprooably extending into one end of the housing, sealing means `adjacent said one end of the housing for preventing leakage from lsaid one end of the housing, sai-d housing having a plurality of longitudinally spaced portions. of reduced internal cross-sectional areas, said valving member having a plurality of longitudinally spaced sections of enlarged transverse cross-sectional areas, each of `said sections being complementary to and slidable in one of said portions of the housing, sai-d sections being so spaced with respect to the spacing of the housing portions that such sections can be selectively and exclusively juxtaposed with either one of the alternate sets of the housing portions upon longitudinal movement of the valving member, said housing having a lateral Opening adjacent said one end of the housing, and means for introducing a fluid under pressure between the housing and the valving member at a position intermediate said lateral opening and said sealing means.

17. Apparatus for removing expansible material from a pressurized vessel which comprises lan elongated, Vopenended, hollow housing connected to said vessel and communicating through one end with the interior thereof, `an elongated valving member reciprocably extending into the other end of the housing, sealing means adjacent said other end of the housing and surrounding the valving member for preventing leakage from said other end of the References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,244,287 Buck Oct. 23, 1917 1,500,686 Sullivan July 8, 1924 1,908,396 Albright May 9, 1933 2,145,977 Foster Feb. 7, 1939 2,453,553 Tansley Nov. 9, 1948 2,540,467 Williams Feb. 6, 1951 2,660,990 Zmuda Dec. 1, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 990,435' France June 6, 1951 

